Regional Hospice's Creative Approach to Advance Care Planning

Even during a public health crisis, hospice and palliative care professionals rise to the challenge of providing compassionate, person-centered care in the community. It’s especially important now for people to consider their health care wishes. Regional Hospice has a creative way to help broach the topic.  

As the country continues to face the impact of COVID-19, it’s important for everyone to consider their health care wishes should they have a serious illness – and communicate those wishes with their loved ones.

Regional Hospice of Danbury, Connecticut has launched a new spot in their long-term campaign, Making the Best of Every Day, to address the important topic of advance care planning in a more comfortable and approachable platform. “Not Fred!”, a 30-second animated commercial, is the fourth in an award-winning series tackling end-of-life choices and making the best of every day. 

Written by Marvin Waldman, former Executive Creative Director at Young & Rubicam, and animated by J. J. Sedelmaier, the segment delicately approaches losing a partner through a light, but sincere, exchange about who a wife should date after her husband’s death. 

“Stories that use humor, and situations everyone can relate to, open the door to talking about death in a less intimidating way,” says Cynthia Emiry Roy, MS, LCSW, CHA, President & CEO of Regional Hospice, “They start the discussion.”

“Not Fred!” takes a sweet and relatable approach to a subject that many find difficult to discuss. While they are animated, these faces of caring are helping the community members start the conversation with their loved ones. 

If you would like to share the creative ways your hospice and palliative care team is caring for patients amid the COVID-19 crisis, please send us your photos and stories so you can be featured in the #hapcFacesOfCaring campaign.